In the Nov. 2 election, candidates Jeff Klein (Democrat) and Frank Vernuccio (Republican) are running to represent the 34th Senate District. As Election Day draws near, Patch asked each of the candidates a series of the same questions.

Jeff Klein, the incumbent candidate, is currently vying for his fourth term as state senator. In 2004, he was elected to the office, after spending 10 years as the assemblyman for the 80th Assembly District. In 2008, he was named the Deputy Majority Leader.

Klein lives in Morris Park in the Bronx. He did his undergraduate work at Queens College before receiving an M.P.A. from Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs. At the City University of New York, he received his J.D. 

Patch: What is, in your opinion, the most important issue facing residents of the 34th senate district? How do you intend to address that issue?

Klein: My residents care about a number of issues, but high on their list—and therefore my top priorities—are tax relief, economic recovery, out-of-control government spending and numerous quality of life issues. I will continue to be an unwavering advocate for real and immediate property tax relief. I will work hard everyday to ensure that we find local solutions to save and create more jobs and develop opportunities for economic growth. As Chair of the Senate Taskforce on Government Efficiency, I will continue to expose wasteful government spending and identify ways our state government can put taxpayer dollars to better use.  In addition, I remain committed to fighting to keep our communities safe. I've introduced legislation that would call for DNA upon arrest for a number of felony crimes, so we can catch repeat criminals quicker and a bill that would make it a crime to carry a gun while intoxicated in New York State.

I am also committed to combating the problem of chronic underage drinking in our communities. Currently, I sponsor a bill that calls for stricter labeling standards for alcohol caffeinated beverages as well as a bill that would impose stricter penalties on those caught selling fake IDs to minors.

Patch: What are some changes you feel are necessary for the district? How does your experience afford you're the ability to implement these changes?

Klein: We can do more to ensure that we are preserving and creating new jobs throughout my district. In recent months, I've organized meetings with local leaders, business owners and community organizations to develop economic plans to ensure small businesses are getting access to the funds they need to stay alive and thrive and are developing ways to attract new retailers to revitalize ailing merchant strips.

Patch: The state is in a fiscal crisis, and spending will have to be cut. How can this be done without pushing costs onto municipalities and therefore property owners?

Klein: We need to get smart about state spending—our state government needs to be more efficient and responsible with taxpayer dollars. As Chair of the Senate Taskforce on Government Efficiency I've led investigations into multiple state agencies that have identified more than $300 million dollars in wasteful spending and millions more in potential savings by cutting excessive overtime and administrative costs. 

Patch: Do you intend to pursue property tax caps? Why or why not?

Klein: I strongly support a cap on property taxes and last year, I led the fight for a property tax cap to give thousands of New York homeowners the relief they need and deserve. My plan would provide a mandatory tax cap with no increases over two percent this year. It would empower residents with the ability to keep their taxes low–since voters could impose a tougher limit or override the cap if necessary. My plan would also cap out-of-control municipal property taxes—by limiting local government taxes to the inflation rate and provides real relief for all homeowners regardless of income or property value.

Patch: Mayor Mary Marvin in Bronxville and other local officials have recently addressed the issue of unfunded state mandates, such as rising pension costs. What are your thoughts on this issue?

Klein: During my current term in the Senate, I introduced a school tax relief bill that included state mandate relief, along with a tax cap and a circuit breaker, as part of a three-pronged approach to addressing rising school tax bills. Now that the tax cap dialogue has expanded to include other local governments, curbing state mandates on local governments needs to be included in the discussion. While all mandates should be scrutinized for necessity, local governments can also help reduce the burden of state mandates by consolidating administration and other services with school districts and other local governments.

On the specific issue of pension costs, the State Senate has taken steps to reduce them for future employees by enacting a new Tier V. A lot more can be done to restrict pension padding and other abuses, but local governments have to do their part to curb the abuses by their current employees. By working together, we can develop ways for local governments to set aside funds when there are surpluses so payments can be met during economic downturns when pension fund returns and local revenues are both down.

Patch: Anything else you'd like to include about your candidacy?

Klein: During the previous two years, six years in total, that I've been serving the residents of the 34th Senate District I've worked hard everyday to ensure that the values, concerns and most importantly the voices of the residents of my district have been heard loud and clear in the halls of the Capitol.

Whether it is fighting to put more dollars back in tax-payers pockets, protecting consumers, ensuring public health and safety or working to preserve neighborhoods and strengthen communities—I believe that I've built a reputation as a senator Bronx and Westchester residents can count on.

In my most recent term in the State Senate, 23 of my bills were signed into law by Governor Paterson. Among them, bills protecting homeowners, which were the basis for new landmark foreclosure laws—instituting stronger protections for families in foreclosure, holding banks more accountable and helping keep thousands of families across New York State in their homes.

I've worked to make our streets and communities safer by introducing a law calling for the collection of DNA upon arrest in order to catch repeat criminals faster and passed a law that notifies parents with an e-mail alert when a sex offender moves into their neighborhood or by their child's school. I've exposed dozens of consumer financial scams and frauds perpetrated by those looking to prey on the pocketbooks of hardworking New Yorkers. I created a consumer friendly letter grading system for restaurants–recently implemented in New York City–that helps prospective patrons make smart and healthy choices on where to dine.

Finally–perhaps most importantly–I make sure that every single request for assistance that comes into my office from a constituent—whether they are dealing with a health care or financial challenge, need assistance with a transportation, safety or public works issue, or seeking help with a neighborhood problem—is dealt with in a fast manner and has a favorable outcome.     

The 34th Senate District is comprised of the towns of Eastchester and Pelham and parts of Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, Yonkers and Bronx County.

Editor's Note: Candidates were posed the same questions and answers were edited for style only.